Flatiron District, 16th Street Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

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These curvy buildings caught my eye and I came home to discover that they became landmarks in 1990.  In the 1840s the streets just north of 14th Street and west of Fifth Avenue were developed with row houses, but by the end of the 19th century most of them were gone as the area had become more commercial.  However, to quote from New York City Landmarks:

. . . West 16th Street retains a significant number of Greek Revival houses.  The most impressive are the four survivors of a row of nine wide houses - Nos. 5, 7, 9, and 17 - each of which has a full-height curving bay on its front facade, an extremely rare feature in New York.

These three houses are 5, 7, and 9, from right to left.




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Here is a view of No. 9 from a different angle, showing the curving bay to a better advantage.

It's hard to see why these are Greek Revival since they are asymetrical, lack pedimented gables or friezes, and have no columns.  And who ever saw curving bays on Greek architecture?  Someone please explain.

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Flatiron District, 16th Street at Fifth Avenue

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This is a window display in the Paul Smith menswear store on Fifth Avenue.  I know it's hard to make it out because of all the reflections, but try the extra large enlargement.  It consists of a number of so-called robots by Gordon Bennett.  I say so-called because they don't do anything; they just look like they would.  They are sculptures and are priced accordingly - up to $6,000.  But you can buy a robot poster for only $50.





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This one is named Adlake Kero and costs $3,000.

Flatiron District, 16th Street Between Union Square West and Fifth Avenue

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Three more restaurants on this block.


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This is the restaurant that started the whole Union Square resurgence:  Union Square Cafe, which opened in 1985.  It was Danny Meyers' first restaurant, and was considered revolutionary because the staff was so nice.  New Yorkers discovered that while they prided themselves on being tough, they actually enjoyed being welcomed and smiled upon.

Since then, Meyers has built an empire of high end restaurants, including Gramercy Tavern, 11 Madison Park, Tabla and Blue Smoke, and all of them are notable for how nice everyone is.  Also the food is great.



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And here is a restaurant of a different sort:  Chat 'n Chew.  It serves things like macaroni and cheese and fried chicken and coca-cola cake.  I did not know until now that Chat 'n Chew, Steak Frites, coming up in next photo, and Sushi Samba are all owned by Andrew Silverman.



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Yes, here is Steak Frites, at the bottom, but I wanted to show you this building because of how ornate it is.  Enlarge it and check out the details.

Flatiron District, 16th Street Between Union Square West and Fifth Avenue

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This is Blue Water Grill, a highly rated seafood restaurant located in the landmarked former Bank of the Metropolis.  I have not eaten at this restaurant (must remedy), but I was in the previous restaurant for drinks.  And what was its name?  I spent a great deal of time online trying to discover the answer.  Shouldn't there be a website devoted to listing the consecutive restaurants operating at one location?  You know there should. 

I was about to give up when suddenly inspiration struck.  My collection of Zagat Surveys!  I found it in the 1991 edition:  Metropolis Cafe.  Doesn't ring a bell, but I'll accept that.

Later, I discovered that if I had actually read the review of Blue Water Grill linked to above, I could have saved myself a lot of time.

Union Square, 16th Street at Union Square West

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Yay, Nancy Pelosi!  Yay, Obama!  Yay, Bart Stupack, even!  Happy again.  Proud again.  Health care at last.  Yes, it'll have to be fixed.  At least we have something to be fixed.  It will be fixed.

We're looking at the Coffee Shop, an American/Brazilian restaurant known for its beautiful servers.  It's been here since 1990, so the initial buzz has faded, but it's still busy all the time. 

Union Square, Union Square West at 16th Street

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Today the whole world was out, everyone congratulating themselves on their good fortune to be out on this glorious first day of Spring.  I had a coffee date in Union Square this morning, and afterwards I walked 16th Street to the Hudson and back on 15th.

KittyKind, an all-volunteer cat rescue and adoption group, was set up here on Union Square West, attracting a steady stream of mostly female visitors.



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Men, a sure-fire way to get in good with a woman is to be friendly to her cat.  You don't have to be sappy, just give him a pat and say hey, there, Buster, in a man-to-man sort of way.  If it's a female cat, you should adjust.

See map.

Hell's Kitchen, Ninth Avenue Between 36th and 37th Streets

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As I mentioned at the beginning of this walk, I was headed to a Pakistani restaurant for discussion of a Pakistani book (The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid).  The restaurant is known to some as Kashmir 9; to others as Pakistani Restaurant, and it gets mostly great reviews (for food, not atmosphere).  However, I stumbled on a Restaurant Inspection Report which left me a little queasy, and I'm not easily made queasy.  I had a couple of vegetarian dishes which didn't impress me, but then I thought maybe meat dishes are the thing to get.  I didn't get sick, which is good.

The book?  Well, as usual, the group was split.  I was on the negative side this time because I didn't like the way the story was told.  But I did like getting the viewpoint of the protagonist.

And so this walk has ended and now it is Daylight Saving Time and Spring comes tomorrow along with a whole new walk.

See map.

Hell's Kitchen, Ninth Avenue Between 35th and 36th Streets

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A convenience store.  Gitcher beer, yer lotto cards, yer newspapers and cigarettes and don't forgetcher ATM to pay for those cigarettes.  Every New Yorker deserves one of these within one block.  They wouldn't agree with me over on Park Avenue. 


See map.

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

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An awfully pretty synagogue here on 34th Street.  It is the West Side Jewish Center.  I couldn't find out when it was built.  Its official site (above link) doesn't seem to know and Wikipedia's article is very short and fragmented.  Anyone?

But do go to Wikipedia to see its photograph of the synagogue from 2007, showing a huge movie poster for Angels and Demons on the side of the building.  Amusing, since the Vatican described the movie as "an offence against God."  Well, amusing to me, anyway.  The congregation was also okay with it and appreciated the extra income.

Looking at this photograph, it appears that the buildings next to it would cover the view of the side of the synagogue, but I have a wider view of it which shows that they are, in fact, back of the side of the building.  Believe it or not.  And you'll have to leave it there because I'm not going to drag that photo out and edit it and post it and copy it.  I know it's not that late, but I'm reforming.  Trying to.
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3/21/10 - Rita kindly points out that Emporis tells us the Center was constructed in 1924.  Thank you!

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

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Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…...........…….. click to enlarge

I thought you'd want to see this red tree courtesy of the Loews sign.

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street at Eighth Avenue

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New walk, new month.  Only a week behind now.  Last Sunday, March 7th, I went downtown to meet up with the Booker Prize Book Club.  The book under discussion was The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (short-listed, not a prize winner).  The main character is a Pakistani, and so we met at a Pakistani restaurant on Ninth Avenue.  Where else?

This photo was taken at 6:30 p.m.  One week later, it would still be daylight.  Let's hear it for Daylight Savings time!  It is a time when I am happy with my government.  It was George Bush (yes!) who extended DST by a month.  Three weeks earlier in the spring and 1 week later in the fall.  Way to go, George!  By the way, I just learned that it is not Daylight Savings Time; it is Daylight Saving Time.

And so, this is where I got off the A train at 34th and Eighth.


NOTE:  I shouldn't have to point this out, but a copyright notice means that you should NOT download any photographs.  It is an infringement of copyright law.  It is stealing.  Please stop.  You can always link to them but don't take them.

Washington Heights, St. Nicholas Avenue at 191st Street

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Finally we're at the end of this Washington Heights walk begun on February 20, and I'm closing with a pigeon shot.  I'm very pleased with this photo because it is hard to take a good pigeon shot.  Just as it is hard to take a good squirrel shot.  Or duck shot.  There are just some common chunky animals that make your eyes glaze over.  It's not their commonness because we love photos of cats.  Is it their lack of individuality?  But cow photos are always nice.  If anyway has the answer, please share.

So, as I was saying, I'm pleased with this photo because I think it is that rare occurrence, a damn good pigeon shot.  Don't you agree?  If it were a notecard, wouldn't you buy it? 

I went online to see what I could see, and I found a whole industry around pigeon photography but it had to do with racing pigeons and photography for identification.  If you have 300 prize pigeons, I guess you want to know who they are.

But I did find two sites you might be interested in; the first contains 100 shots of city pigeons by 100 photographers participating in "Pigeons In Town."  The contest closed March 11, two days ago.  Oh, cruel fate.  I'm sure I would have won.  It is at Digital Photography Review.

The second is Ingrid Taylar's story of detangling a city pigeon's feet.  If you like to read about poor helpless animals being rescued, as I do, this is for you.

Washington Heights, St. Nicholas Avenue at 191st Street

I apologize!  I've kept you in suspense for 3 days!  And I have no excuse except I've been super busy. 

So where did we eat lunch?



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Where else but El Nuevo Caridad.  I've been wanting to eat there since February 2008.




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The front looking out on St. Nicholas Avenue.





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And the back, looking more like a neighborhood hangout.

And what did we eat?



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Pork, of course.  Bill was craving it, not getting it at home any more.  And it sounded good to me.  This is their roast pork lunch.  Satisfying and generous to a fault.  The rice was quite good.

Washington Heights, 190th Street at Audubon Avenue

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At the corner of 190th and Audubon, Bill and I stopped for a conference.  I had thought we'd go back to Amsterdam and continue walking south, but the thought of lunch had occurred to both of us.  Lunch was more gettable on St. Nicholas, so we abandoned all thoughts of an extended walk and turned west (in this photo, that would be right).  Guess where we ended up?

Washington Heights, Audubon Avenue Between 192nd and 191st Streets

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Quite an odd building, don't you think?  With its birdcage balconies down one side and a blank wall on the other.  Wouldn't it be great to have a large parrot in each of those balconies?  Does it surprise you to know it was built in the dreadful 60's?  The architect:  Joseph Douglas Weiss.

It's the Isabella House, housing for seniors, with different levels of assistance.  It might almost be tempting (complimentary linen service, e.g.) except it seems to be completely beige, inside and out.  So depressing.

See map.

Washington Heights, 193rd Street at Audubon Avenue

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Here again is the impressive George Washington High School seen from 193rd Street, just quietly tucked away in a corner of Washington Heights.

If you checked out the link I gave you two nights ago, you know that Fort George Amusement Park was constructed on this site in 1895.  Fires destroyed it in 1911 and 1913, after which, "The park became dominated by dance halls, sleazy taverns, and tawdry entertainments."  In 1920 the High School was constructed and it was goodby to the tawdry entertainments.  Darn.

Washington Heights, 193rd Street Between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues

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We rounded the bend of Fort George Avenue and met up with St. Nicholas Avenue.  Now we're crossing 193rd Street to get back to Audubon Avenue.

This scene reminded me of a Venetian canal.  You have to imagine the water, of course.  And the gondola.

See map.

Washington Heights, Fort George Avenue between Amsterdam and St. Nicholas Avenues

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All I seem to be capable of doing tonight is to urge you to check out this link.  Be sure to read the postscript at the bottom of the page.

Washington Heights, Amsterdam Avenue Between 190th and 193rd Streets

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Okay, now we're back on the Washington Heights walk, briefly interrupted for some snow pics.

Would you believe that these buildings are part (the back part) of George Washington High School?  Here's the front.  According to Wikipedia, Maria Callas attended this high school.  Also Henry Kissenger.  And since they were both born in 1923, they must have attended at the same time.  Can't you just see them as teenagers, holding hands, going to the soda shop after school?

See map.

West Village, Seventh Avenue South at Bleecker Street

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Okay, I've had my haircut; it's good though not fabulous; it's about 5:20 and I have nothing planned.  Naturally, I think of that great wine bar around the corner on 7th Avenue.  Centro Vinoteca.




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Now I'm inside, looking out.  You can see the grid marks of the window or screen or whatever they're marks of.  And if you enlarge either of these photos, you can see that it was snowing. 

It was very, very pleasant sitting there with a quarto of syrah and chicken liver pate as it slowly got darker outside.  Once in a while the waiter stopped by to chat.  He was from Croatia.  There are times when my whole body is filled with contentment and gratitude that I can live in New York and this was surely one of them.





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This is what was to my left.

West Village, Commerce Street Between Seventh Avenue South and Bedford Street

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I was headed downtown to get a haircut at the Robert G Salon on Commerce Street.  Those of you who pay attention to such things may wonder why every time I get a haircut, it's at a different place.  The answer is discounts.  Ever since I lost my last haircutter, I've been discounting my way around town, seeking a replacement, and although I always get good haircuts, I haven't yet had a fabulous one.  This particular score was through Groupon, a site I love.

This is Commerce Street, looking back at Seventh Avenue South and it is snowing.

Milk and Cookies is there on the left.  Supposedly, Robert G offers cookies from here to its customers, but not to me, not that day.  I'll blame it on the snow.




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Here is the salon, in the middle of the block.  Perhaps that is Robert G himself on the steps.  Notice the discreet sign at the bottom of the window.  No telling what the store is next door because they didn't even have a discreet sign.






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Here is the other end of the block near Bedford Street.  I didn't go any farther because it was snowing and my camera was in jeopardy.

See map.